because: Meaning and Definition of

be•cause

Pronunciation: (bi-kôz', -koz', -kuz'), [key]
— conj.
  1. for the reason that; due to the fact that: The boy was absent because he was ill.
  2. by reason of; due to: Schools were closed because of heavy snowfall.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.